Vertically flued rich gas fired coke oven battery



F. WETHLY Aug. 14, 1951 VERTICAQLY FLUED RICH GAS FIRED COKE OVEN BATTERY Filed Aug. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 um gm 0 gml INVEN TOR fiayi/w'y BY A'ITORNE" F. WETHLY Aug. 14, 1951 VERTICALLY FLUED RICH GAS FIRED COKE OVE N BATTERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1948 III 1 1I1 1 I1/11/I1 I 111111111 11 1 1 III/I I II I/I/ 1 111 III (III I 11 11/ 1 III 1 INVENTOR 17am? 24? BY AQZRNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 VERTICALLY FLUEsD RICH GAS FIRED COKE OVEN BATTERY Frans Wetlily, Manhasset, N. Y., assignor to Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Appuafitnlmgu'a 4, 1948', Serial No. 42,425

.5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a rich gas fired,

vertically flued coke oven battery of 7 great strength and durability and therefore adapted to coke all coking coals including coals of 10W volatile content, e. g., containing less than about 26% of volatile matter. Such low volatile coals exert pressures in excess of 2 pounds per square inch when coked and therefore cannot be coked in the heretofore known types of coke oven batteries in general use.

In my copending application Serial No. 585,-

236 filed March 28, 1945, which issued as Patent No. 2,460,324 on February 1, 1949, I have disclosed and claimed a combination vertically flued coke oven battery adapted to coke low volatile coals. The present application is directed to a novel rich gas fired, verticallyflued coke oven battery for coking low volatile and other coking coals.

It is an object of this invention to provide a regenerative, vertically flue-d rich gas fired coke oven battery of great strength and durability and therefore adapted to coke all coking coals including low volatile coals, which battery is unusually simple and compact in design and efficient in operation. 1

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detail description thereof.

The rich gas fired coke oven battery-of this invention comprises in combination a plurality of horizontally-elongated cell-defining walls disposed in spaced relation to define horizontallyelongated cells. A horizontally-elongated coking chamber is disposed in the upper portion of each cell. Beneath this coking chamber-in the lower portion of each cell is disposed a row of inflow and outflow regenerators. Each cell-defining wall comprises a heat-transmitting wall at each side thereof, each such heat-transmitting wall defining a side Wall of the coking chamber contiguous thereto. In addition the cell-defining wall comprises two rows of vertical fiues, one row on one side and the other row on the other side of the upper portion of the celldefining wall, and a massive refractory wall extending crosswise of the battery between the two rows of vertical fiues, this massive wall being devoid of openings, extending from top to bottom of the cell-defining wall and of a thickness at least four times the thickness of the heat-transmitting wall. This massive wall provides a gas-tight barrier separating a coking chamber, the row of vertical fiues for heating one side of this coking chamber and the row of regenerators therebeneath on one side of this massive wall from the coking chamber, the row of vertical fiues for heating one side of this chamber and the row of regenerators therebeneath on the other side of this massive wall. It also buttresses the heating fiues so that the heat-transmitting walls are capable of withstanding, without substantial deformation or spalling, the pressures generated in the coking of low volatile coals. Moreover, this construction results in the supplying of preheated air and gas to the heating fiues of each coking chamber and the withdrawal of products of combustion from these heating fiues independently of the supply of these media to and the withdrawal of prodnets of combustion from the fiues associated with adjacent coking chambers, permitting regulation of the heating of each coking chamber of the battery independently of the others to obtain optimum coking.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated on the drawings the invention is shown incorporated in a rich gas fired underjet oven battery and the description which follows will be confined to the present illustrated embodimentof the invention. It will be understood, however, the novel features and improvements are not limited to this embodiment of the invention, but the invention includes coke oven batteries in which the rich gas, e.-g., coke oven gas, is supplied to the fiues from conduits disposed in the oven brickwork in the vicinity above the regenerators and beneath the base of the, coking chambers, i. e,, ovens of the gas gun type. Hence, the scope of this invention is not confined to the embodiment herein described.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred embodiment of the invention but without limiting the claimed invention to this embodiment:

Figure 1 is a composite vertical section taken crosswise of the battery, the left-hand portion being taken through a heating wall, which in the interests of clarity is shown in full lines and the right-hand portion being taken through a coking chamber, of a coke oven battery embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken, lengthwise of the battery in a plane passing through line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, thec'oke oven battery comprises a deck or oven base In which extends the full length and width ofthe battery and supports the battery brickwork. The deck In is ordinarily formed of reinforced concrete and may be a single slab, although preferably it is divided into a plurality of longitudinal sections separated by expansion joints, as is well known. This deck is supported by a multiplicity of columns II which may be of reinforced concrete. These columns are disposed longitudinally of the battery and also crosswise of the battery. Concrete walls l2 and J3 are disposed at the sides of the battery producing with the deck an enclosed basement space I4. Conventional pinion walls i5 (Figure 2) are provided at the ends of the battery for additionally supporting deck member [9 and for retaining in place the brick work hereinafter described supported on the deck member [0.

Disposed at spaced points along the length of deck l9 and extending crosswise of the battery are parallel cell-defining walls 16 (Figure 2).

These walls [6 deflne the side walls of horizontally-elongated cells I! in side by side relationship; the distance between the median of one cell and the rhea-arr of a contiguous cell prefer ably is frcm 4 to'5 feet.

Each cell-defining wall It; comprises (1) a heat-transmitting wall [8 on opposite sides thereof, (2) two rows J9 and 29 of vertical flues, and (3) a massive refractory wall 2| extending crosswise of the batterybetween the two rows I9 and 29 of vertical flues. Massive wall 2! extends the full height of the cell-defining wall, is devoid of openings and 'of a thickness at least four timesthe thickness of the heat-transmitting wall [8. Each heat-transmitting wall l8 desirably is of silica brick shapes and of a thickness from 3 to 4 inches, preferably 3%" thick. Each massive wall2i consists of an interior portion 22 constituted of machine made, relatively inexpensive silica brick known as straights, desirably from 9 /2 tb 13 preferably about 13 /2" thick, and a liner 23 on each side of the interior portion 22, which liner with the heattransmitting wall I8 and the intersecting walls 24 (Figure 1) forms the vertical flues. Liner 2a and walls 24, as customary, are made from silica brick shapes to produce fines of desired configuration. Liner 23 may have athickness of from 2 /2" to 5". Thus, the combined thickness of the intericr pcrtion 22 and the liners 23 of each massive wally?! separating the two groups of flues l9 gauge is from 14 /2" to 28 preferably abcut 17 In the upper portion of each cell ll is a horizontally-elongated coking chamber 25. Each coking chamber in horizontal cross-section is of tapered shape, as is conventional, the wide end of the coking chamber being on the coke side of the battery, i, e., the side at which the coke is discharged froin the coking chambers, and the narrower end on the pusher side. Disposed directly beneath this coking chamber in each Cell I! is a row of regenerators. 26, each containing conventional heat storing refractory material such as checker brick. Each row of regenerators is constituted of two exterior regenerators 21, one of which is shown in Figure 1 and an interior regenerator 28. Each row of regenerators is provided at its base with a pair of sole channels or passages 29 and 29 extending from one side of the battery; air is supplied to and products of combustion withdrawn from the bottom of the regenerators through the sole channels 29 and 29'. Sole channel 29 communicates only with the exterior regenerators 21 and sole channel 29' communicates only with the interior regenerator 28.

A chimney. flue 39 is located on one side of the:

battery and runs the full length thereof. This chimney flue may be disposed on the coke .or pusher side of the battery. In the embodiment shown on the drawing, it is positioned on the coke side of the battery. Located at the same side Of the battery as the chimney flue are reversing, valves M which may take various forms and which collectively provide for the discharge of the products of combustion from the regenerators through the sole channels 29, 29' into chimney flue 39 and for the supply of air to the regenerators. Air is supplied to the inflow regenerators through passageways 32 communicably connecting the basement space [4 with the sole channels 29, 29'. In the structure shown on Figure 1 a valve 33 controls the flow of air from the basement space I4 through the passageway 32 into a sole channel 29 or 29' of the inflow regenerators of each row. This valve is shown in open position in Figure 1. A valve 34 is provided for controlling the new ofprojducts of combustion from each sol-e channel 29, 29" of the outflow regenerators into" the chimney flue 39. A butterfly valve 35 is positioned in a passageway 33 connecting each sole channel 29, 29 with the chimney line 30; which butterfly valve may be suitably positioned by the operator to. obtain the desired stack draft, causing new of the products of combustion into the chimney flue 30.

It will be understood valves similar to 33 and 34 are provided for the sole channel's eommunicat ing with each of the regenerators of each row of regenerators, which valves control the now of air into the inflow regenerators rrom the basement nets of combustion from the 'i'nte'rib'r regen rators 28 along the length of the battery into. the chimney flue 39 are open, the corresponding valves 34 in the passageways connecting the "sole channels 29 of the exterior regenerators 21. with the chimney fiue30 are closed. Each passageway connecting the basement space. with 'the sole channel may be provided with a port 31 which may be throttled by removable and'replaceable,

finger bars. 1

Each coking chamber 25 is preferably provided with a plurality of charging holes 38 and with the usual valve controlled gas offtake "39 communicating with the collector main system. The ends of the coking chambers, as conventional, are

adapted to be. closed by removable doors of' any well known type. 4

Each row of heating flues l9 and 2E; are com.- municably connected with other flues of the same row but not with the flues of other rows. Each row of flues involves on the pusher side of the battery a concurrently operable group of vertical flues 49 to 41, inclusive, communicating at their tops through a horizontal flue 4-8 with a group of flues 49 to 56, inclusive. On thecoke side of the battery an exterior group of vertical flues 5'! to 62, inclusive, is connected by horizontal flue 63 to the interior groups of flues 64 to "Hi, inclusive. Thus, in the embodiment of the inventionshown on the drawings. each cell-defining wall involves two rcwsiof vertical flues, eachrowof flues iscon- ;,;st ituted of two outer and two inner' groups' of flues, the outer groups operating concurrently for inflow, while the inner groups operate concurrently for outflow. Upon reversal the inner groups of flues of each row operate as inflow flues, while the outer groups operate concurrently as outflow flues.

Flow through each flue may be controlled by a slide brick or damper brick H to vary the extent of the passage connecting the vertical flues with the horizontal flues 48 and 63. Each slide brick may be advanced more or less over the passage connecting the vertical flue with the horizontal flue through access flue 12, which extends from the horizontal flues to the top of the battery. The base of each flue is provided with a burner for supplying rich fuel gas, such as coke oven gas, thereto. Crosswise of the battery the flues are provided alternately with low burners I3 and high burners I4.

Each flue receives rich gas, such as coke oven gas or other rich fuel gas, through an individual uprising channel 15 extending through deck Ill and connected at its lower end with one of a pair of gas distributing mains 16 disposed in the basement space I4 near the top thereof crosswise of the battery. These crosswise extending mains 16 are provided with individual uprising channels I1, one of the mains 16 bein provided with such channels communicating only with the exterior groups of flues in the heating Wall thereabove and the other main with such channels communicating only with the interior groups of flues in the heating wall thereabove. Each uprising channel 11 at the point where it is connected with main 16 is provided with a flow regulator (not shown) controlling the flow of gas supplied to the flue. This flow regulator preferably is of the type described and claimed in Patent 2,199,961 of May '7, 1940. These regulating devices require attention and occasional adjustment by an attendant working in basement space [4.

Each main i6 communicates with a rich gas supply main [8 connected therewith by means of pipin 19. Main 18 is suitably insulated against loss of heat. Piping 19 is provided with a threeway valve 80 and a shutofl" valve 8| which is normally open. Leading into the three-way valve 80 is a pipe 82 which communicates with a decarbonizing air main B3 suitably supported in the basement space M. Operation of the three-way valve 80 by the usual automatic reversal mechanism functions to place the main i8 into communication with the mains 76 serving to supply coke oven gas to the inflow flues and to place the decarbonizing air main 83 into communication with the mains 16 to which coke oven gas is not being supplied. Upon reversal of operation the three-way valve is operated to place decarbonizing air main in communication with the cross mains I6 to which previously fuel gas had been supplied in accordance with customary procedure of supplying fuel gas and decarbonizing air to the gas distribution systems of coke'oven batteries.

The exterior regenerators 21 of each row of regenerators in each cell H, as shown in Figure 2, are connected by ports 84 and 85 with the outer groups of flues on opposite sides of the coking chamber thereabove. The inner regenerator 28 of each row of regenerators is connected by like ports with the inner groups of flues on opposite sides of the coking chamber directly above it.

All of the exterior regenerators 21 of each row of regenerators during one period of operation downwardly through the inner groups of flues 49 to 56 and 64 to 10 on opposite sides of the coking chamberinto the inner regenerator 28. Upon reversal inner regenerator 28 of each row of regenerators and the flues communicating therewith operate for inflow while products of combustion pass downwardly through the outer groups of flues and theouter regenerators 21.

Thus, all of the regenerators in alignment longitudinally of the battery operate simultzameously for flow in the same direction. It will be understood that, if desired, a pair of inner regenerators may be used instead of each regenerator 28, one individual to the two groups of flues 64 to 10 on opposite sides of a coking chamber and the other individual to the two groups of flues 49 to 56 on opposite sides of the coking chamber. Also a relatively thin crosswise extending partition may be disposed along the median plane of the regenerators shown in the drawings to divide each regenerator into two equal compartments so that each row of flues communicates with a separate row of regenerators.

Located at theother side of the battery is an air channel or passageway 81 running the full length of the battery to which air may be supplied through one or both ends thereof. If desired, a fan or blower (not shown) may be disposed at one end of the air channel 81 with its outlet arranged to blow the air at any desired pressure, say at about a 5 mm. water gauge above atmospheric, into the channel 81. The air admitted to the channel may be passed through a filter cloth'or other screen so that clean air of predetermined humidity is admitted to the channel and flows through openings 88 into the basement space M and from this space intothe regenerators. Op-

crating in this manner air of constant oxygen content is admitted to the regenerators throughout the year minimizing the necessity of changing adjustments of theregulating devices with seasonal changes in atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, comfortable conditions for the attendant are maintained in the basement space M at all times.

Benches 89 and 99 are provided on opposite sides of the coke oven battery on which benches travel the machinery, such as the coke oven door, pusher and coke guide handling machines usually associated with a coke oven battery, V It will be noted that in the coke oven battery of this invention the upper portions of the celldefining walls are in effect heating walls of greatly increased strength, buttressing the vertical heating flue and minimizing spelling and deformation of the heat-transmitting walls. Hence, low volatile and other coking coals which generate high pressure, for example, coal charges containing as low as 18% volatiles, which may. develop pressures as high as 10 pounds per square inch, may be coked in the battery of this invention. Further in the regenerator and vertical flue arrangement of the battery of this invention, thelflow of preheated air and fuel gas to and the flow of products of combustion from the flues associated with each coking chamber are independent of the flow of these media to and the flow of productshof combustion from other coking chambers: including the adjacent coking ascetic ehambersi- This permits contrprcijthe sup ly of the proper amount of air and rich fuel gas to the -hues" of each coking chamber independently of that supplied to the other coking chambers with consequent im rovementm the-coking ef-' Iect'e'd in each coking chamber; I

- The construction of thecell-defining walls permits replacement: of the- Special brick shapes defining the heating fines,- should they become war-n out or defective for any" reason. In prior types of batteries, should the heating flfis be come cracked and spaued, lt' was necessary to rebuild the entire battery; With the con'struoftibl'l Of this invention the massive Walls 22 built from relatively inexpensive-maciiin madebri'ck' straights are practicallyiii'destrl'ictib1e"and serve" as sup orting and strengthening Walls for the liners 23' and the heatafansiifittinf v'liaflls i8; which therefore may be made"- relatively thin and replaced when necessary, For example; liners 2 3 may" be made 2%" thick and" heat transmitting wall I 8; 3%" thick; Present stand are practice is to have the eat-transmitting walls 4 /5" thick or thicker. The use pf trimmer heat-transmitting wallsand tlie employment" of massivewalls 2-1, which serve as neat-reservoirs effecting improved heating of" the fresh coal charges introduced ihto the" coking" chambers permits asubstantially lower flue temperature be maintained Without affecting the c'bkihg rate, or, conversely-; results in a faster coking rate with the same fliie temperature Withj CO'h S'e queht materiai increase" iii capacity of the oven battery.- Thus, Whereaspreseht ovehs of latest design have a coking rate"of 1.2" per houhw'ith fluetemperature of 2550 the cven of the invention' can-be operated with a flue tempera tureof 230'F. (250 lower) at the same co'k; ing rate; or operated with a flue temperature of 2550 F? in which case the coking fatie is in} creased to' 114"perho1ir; an'incr'ease in capacityof about 17%; Furthermore; should it be neces sary to replace the 1iner's2'3 men es-transmit: ting walls l8'= of one coking chamber, this can readily be done with'out'deformatiojnor" spalling' of the silica b'ric'k wo'rk f'c'irihin'g theliriers" and heat tiansmittih walls of adjacent coking" cha'mbers because;- asflnote'd above, the supply; of" preheated" air and fuel gas to and withdrawal or: products or compasses from theheatirigfiues of each coking chamber is independent-of the supply of these media to and withdrawal of" combustio'n' products from theileatihgfiue's of ad jacent coking chambers; Hence, when repairs are made in the heating dues of one coking chamber, temperature conditions'niay readilybe maintained in the heating fliies of'adjaceritc'okingchambers high enough to prevent such' deg" formation or spalling of the" silica brick work" thereof. 7 V

The above factor's'and thegreater durabllity'oi the "coke oven battery ofthisinvention-results in important economies in the construction' andf operation of the battery-i it results in" amater'i'alf reduction in the numberor' more costly'special" silic'a brick required in' the construction of the" battery, in a substantial reduction in" thecostof" maintenance andpperation of the-battery and greatly prolongs the effective lifefof the" battery. Furthermore, as noted above; the invenncnre: sultsin a material improvement in the coking rate.

While the drawings illustrate theinvention" applied to battery involving heating walls equipped-wits-rcws of nues arrmeea in two ex 1 8' terior and two interior groups, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in batteries involving other Vertical flue arrangements in which the vertical lines communicate with other vertical hues of the same row, but not with flues of other rows, as, for example, the twin vertical flue arrangement disclosed in Figures 3 and 4 of my Pat'e'nt No. 2,407,356 granted September 10; 1946. Further, the invention may be incorporated in batteries having two waste heat fiues as disclosed in Pavitt Uni'ted' States Patent 2,155;954 of April 1939,

Since certain changes may be madewithout departing from the" scope" of the invention, it is intendedthatthe above description shall be int'e'rprete'd as illustrative and not in a limiting sen e;

What is" claimed is:

l. A coke oven battery comprising, in combina H i tion, aplurality of horizontally elongated celldefining wall disposed in spaced relation defin-' ing horizontally-elongated cells disposed in side by-side relation; a horizontally elongated coking chamber inthe upper portion of each cell; a row or crosswise-extending air' inflow and products of combustion outflow' regenerators in the lower portion of each cell directly beneath the coking chamber in said cell; each cell-defining wall comprising a heat-transmitting wall on each side thereof; two'rowsof vertical flues, one row being' positioned on one side and theo'ther row on the otherside of the upper portion of said cell-defining wall, and-a massive refractory wall extending crosswise of the" battery between said two rows of fines, said massive wall extending the full height'of thecell-defining' wall being devoid of openings and of a thickness at least four times the thickness of said heat-transmitting wall; each row of vertical flues containin inflow and outflow flues' communicating at their upper ends with hues of thesame' row but not with hues of other rows, the inflow and outflow flues on opposite sides of each coking chamber communicating, respectively, with the inflow and outflow regerierators disposedbeneath said coking chamher and the regenerators in each cell commu-' nic'ating' only with the heating fiues on'opposite sides of the coking chamber in said cell, whereby the supply of heated air to the heating flues o'f each'c'okingchamber and the withdrawal of the products of' combustion from these heating lines is independent of the supply of heated air to and-the withdrawal of products of combustion from the fiues associated with other coking chambers of the coke oven battery thus permit ting regulation of the heating of each coking chamber independently of the other coking chambers of the battery.

,2; A coke oven battery comprising, in combination; a plurality of cell-defining walls disposed in spaced relation defining horizontally-elongated cells disposedin side-by-si'de relation; a horizontally elongated' coking chamber in the" upper portion of each cell; a row of crosswise extending air inflow and products of combustion outflow *regeh'erators in the" lower portion of each cell directly berie'ath the coking chamber in said celli' each cell-defining wa'llcomprisin'g wheat transmitting wa1l on each' 'side there'of, two rows 5 of vertica1'fiue s, one-Towbeingpositioned-on one side and the other row on 'tli'e other side or the' upper portionofsaid cell d'efining wall; and a massive refractor wall extending crosswise of the' battery between said two ro'ws' of '1 fines-i Said massive walleittendifi'g full height of the cell-defining wall, being devoid of openings, from 14 to 28 inches thick and of a thicknessat least four times the thickness of said heat-transmittin wall, each row of vertical flues being arranged in inflow and outflow groups of flues communicating at their upper ends with flues of the same row but not with flues of other rows, the inflow and outflow groups of flues on opposite sides of each coking chamber communicating, respectively, with the inflow and outflow Pregenerators disposed beneath said coking chamber and the regenerators in each cell communicating only with the heating fiues on opposite sides-of the coking chamber insaid cell, whereby the supply of heated air to the heating flues of each coking chamber and the withdrawal of the products of combustion from these heating flues is independent of the supply'of heated air to and the withdrawal of products of combustion from the flues associated with other coking chambers of the coke oven battery thus permitting regulation of the heating of each coking chamber in-' dependently of the other coking chambers of the battery.

3. A coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a mat; a basement beneath said mat; a plurality of horizontally-elongated cell-defining walls disposed on said mat in spaced relationship defining horizontally-elongated cells disposed in side-by-side relationship; I a horizontally-elongated coking chamber in the upper portion of each cell; a row of crosswise-extending air inflow and products of combustion outflow regenerators in the lower portion of each cell directly beneath the coking chamber in said cell; each cell-defining wall comprising a heat-transmitting wall on each side thereof, two rows of vertical flues, one

row being positioned on one side and the other row on the other side of the upper portion of said cell-defining wall, a massive refractory wall extending crosswise of the battery between said two rows of flues, said massive wall extending the full'height of the cell-defining wall being devoid of openings and of a thickness at least four times the thickness of said heat-transmitting wall, each row of vertical flues containing inflow and outflow flues communicating at their upper ends withfiueslof the same row but not with flues of other rows, the inflow and outflow fiues on opposite sides of each coking chamber communicating, respectively, with the inflow and outflow regenerators disposed beneath said coking chamber, and the regenerators in each cell communicating only with the heating flues on opposite sides of the coking chamber in said cell, whereby the supply of heated air to the heating flues of each coking chamber and the withdrawal of the products of combustion from these heating flues is independent of the supply of heated air to and the withdrawal of products of combustion from the flues associated with other coking chambers of the coke oven battery thus permitting regulation of the heating of each coking chamber independently of the other cokin chambers of the battery, an air duct disposed at one side of the battery to supply air to the basement space, conduits. at the other side of the battery connecting the basement space with the regenerators, a chimney flue disposed at the said other side of the battery, rich gas mains disposed in the basement space, and gas burners in said flues communicably connected with said gas mains by ducts passing through said massive refractory walls.

4. A coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a plurality of horizontally-elongated s lldefining Walls disposed in spaced relationship defining horizontally-elongated cells spaced from each other so that the median of each cell is spaced from the median of a contiguous cell a distance of from 4 /2 to 5 feet; a horizontallyelongated coking chamber in the upper portion of each cell; each cell-defining wall comprising a heat-transmitting wall on each side thereof defining aside wall of each of the two coking chambers on opposite sides of said cell-defining wall, two rows 'of vertical flues, one row being positioned at one ide and the other row on the other side of the upper portion of said celldefining wall, each row of flues comprising two exterior and two interior groups of flues, channels connecting'the tops of the exterior groups, respectively, with the tops of the interior groups, the two exterior groups being simultaneously operable for flow in one direction and the two interior groups beingv simultaneously operable for flow in the opposite direction, and a massive refractory wall extending crosswise of the battery between said two rows of flues, said massive wall being devoid of openings, extending the full height of the cell-defining wall and ,of a thickness at least four times the thickness of the said heat-transmitting wall; a row of regenerators in the lower portion of each cell directly beneath the coking chamber in said cell and comprising two exterior regenerators communicating, respectively, with the four exterior groups of ,heat-. ing fiues on opposite sides of the coking chamber thereabove, and a regenerator communicating with the four interior groups of flues on opposite sides of the coking chamber thereabove, said firstnamed regenerators being operable for flow in one direction and said last-named regenerator being simultaneously operable for flow in the opposite direction, said regenerators communicating directly with the bases of said vertical flues for supplying air to said flues to support com-, bustion of rich fuel gas fed directly to said flues and the row of regenerators in each cell communicating only with the heating flues on opposite sides of the coking chamber in said cell,

whereby the supply of heated air to the heating fiues of each coking chamber and the withdrawal of the products of combustion from these heatin flues is independent of the supply of heated air to and the withdrawal of the products of combustion from the heating flues of other coking chambers of the battery thus permitting regulation of the heating of each coking chamber independently of the other coking chambers of the battery.

5. A coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a plurality of horizontally-elongated celldefining walls dis osed in spaced relationship defining horizontally-elongated cells spaced from each other so that the median of each cell is spaced from the median of a contiguous cell a distance of from 4% to 5 feet: a horizontall -elongated coking chamber in the upper portion of each cell; each cell-defining wall comprising a heat-transmitting Wall on each side thereof defining a side wall of each of the two coking chambers on opposite sides of said cell-defining wall, two rows of vertical flues, one row being positioned at one side and the other row on the other side of the upper portion of said cell-defining wall, each. row of fiues comprising two exterior and two interior groups of flues, channels connectin the tops of the exterior groups, respectively, with the tops of the interior groups, the two exterior groups being simultaneously operable for flow in one direction and the two inte- 11' rior groups being simultaneously operable for flow in the opposite direction, and a massive refractory wall extending crosswise of the battery' between said two rows of fiues, said massive wall being devoid of openings, extending thefullheight of the cell-defining wall, from 14V; to 28 inches thick and of a thickness at least-four times the thickness of the said heattranjsmitting wall; a row of regenerators in the lower portion of each cell directly beneath the coking chamber in said cell comprising two exterior regenerators communicating, respectively, with the four exterior groups of heating fl'u'es on opposite sides of the coking chamber thereabove, and an interior regenerator communicating with the four interior groups of fines on opposite sides of the coking chamber thereabove, said exterior regenerators being operable for flow in one direction and said interior regenerator being simultaneously operable for flow in the opposite direction, said regenerators communicating directly with the bases of said vertical fines for supplying air to said fines to support combustion of rich fuel gas fed direct- 1y to said fines and the row of regenerators in each cell communicating only with the heating flues on opposite sides of the cokin chamber in aid cell, whereby the supply of heated air to th heating flues of each coking chamber and the withdrawal of the products of combustion from these heating flues is independent of the supply of heated air to and the withdrawal of 12 the products of combustion from the .heating flues of other coking chambers of the battery thus permitting regulation of the heating of each coking chamber independently of the other coking chambers of the battery.

FRANS WETHLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 2 3, 192? OTHER REFERENCES The Wilputte Coke Oven, copyright, 1944, W-ilputte Coke Oven Corp. 7 v I Recent Developments in by-product Coking, Coke and Gas, May 1947, pages 131-437, 149. (Copy in Bureau of Mines Library.) 

